Signalling Resource Allocation in a Telecommunications Newtork

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method, a radio base station ( 40 ) and a mobile terminal ( 50 ) for allocating resources in a telecommunications network, where communications between the radio base station ( 40 ) and the mobile terminal ( 50 ) take place over a plurality of carriers. The method comprises transmitting and receiving a resource allocation message comprising one or more bits. Each of the bits corresponds to a number of resource blocks, where the number is determined from the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the plurality of carriers divided by the bandwidth of the carrier over which the resource allocation message is sent.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods in a telecommunicationsnetwork, and in particular relates to methods, radio base stations, andmobile terminals for signalling resource allocation for communicationsbetween a radio base station and a mobile terminal.

BACKGROUND

FIG. 1 shows a telecommunications network 2. The network 2 comprises aplurality of radio base stations 4, each of which communicates with aplurality of mobile terminals 6 in so-called “cells”. Each radio basestation 4 further communicates with a core network 8. For example, wherethe network 2 is an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network(E-UTRAN), the core network 8 comprises an evolved packet core, itselfcomprising a mobility management entity (MME), a serving gateway and aPDN (packet data network) gateway.

E-UTRAN according to Release 8 of the 3GPP specifications supportsbandwidths up to 20 MHz. However, one of the requirements of futurereleases of this standard is expected to be the support of bandwidthslarger than 20 MHz. A further important requirement on such releases isto assure backward compatibility with Release 8. This should alsoinclude spectrum compatibility. That would imply that a future-releasecarrier, wider than 20 MHz, should appear as a number of Rel-8 carriersto a Rel-8 terminal. Each such carrier can be referred to as a ComponentCarrier. In particular for early deployments of future releases, it canbe expected that there will be a smaller number of future-releaseterminals compared to many legacy Rel-8 terminals. Therefore, it isnecessary to assure an efficient use of a wide carrier also for legacyterminals, i.e. that it is possible to implement carriers where legacyterminals can be scheduled in all parts of the wideband future-releasecarrier.

The straightforward way to obtain this would be by means of carrieraggregation. Carrier aggregation implies that a future-release terminalcan receive multiple component carriers, where the component carriershave, or at least have the possibility of having, the same structure asa Rel-8 carrier. Carrier aggregation is illustrated in FIG. 2 where fivecomponent carriers 10, each of 20 MHz bandwidth, have been aggregatedtogether to form an aggregated bandwidth of 100 MHz.

In 3GPP Release 8, downlink control signalling is used to supporttransmission of uplink and downlink data. Release 8 uses downlink L1/L2control signalling. The downlink L1/L2 control signalling includesdownlink scheduling assignments including information required for theterminal to be able to properly receive downlink data transmissions anduplink scheduling grants controlling the uplink transmission activity.

The downlink L1/L2 control signalling corresponds to three differentphysical-channel types:

-   -   The Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH),        informing the terminal about the size of the control region        (one, two, or three OFDM symbols). There is one and only one        PCFICH in each cell.    -   The Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), used to signal        downlink scheduling assignments and uplink scheduling grants.        Each PDCCH carries signalling for a single terminal (or a group        of terminals). There are typically multiple PDCCHs in each cell.    -   The Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH), used to        signal hybrid-ARQ acknowledgements in response to uplink UL-SCH        transmissions. There are multiple PHICHs in each cell.

Part of the information transmitted on a PDCCH is the resources used fortransmission of the data, expressed as resource blocks. That is, eachresource block relates to a particular portion of frequency bandwidth,and a particular interval in time. There are three differentpossibilities to signal the resource-block allocation type: type 0, 1and 2. Resource-block allocation types 0 and 1 both support allocationsof non-contiguous resource blocks in the frequency domain, while type 2supports allocations of contiguous resource blocks only.

FIGS. 3 a to 3 c illustrate the format of the three resource-blockallocation message types 0, 1 and 2 respectively.

In resource allocation type 0 (FIG. 3 a), an allocation messagecomprises a type identifier 12 (i.e. identifying resource allocationtype 0) and a bit map 14 pointing to resource blocks that are allocated.The size of the bit map is reduced by each bit pointing not toindividual resource blocks in the frequency domain, but to groups of afixed number of contiguous resource blocks. The size of such a group isdetermined by the downlink cell bandwidth; for the smallest bandwidthsthere is only a single resource block in a set implying that anarbitrary set of resource blocks can be scheduled, while for the largestcell bandwidths groups of four resource blocks may be used. Thus, thebitmap for a system with a downlink cell bandwidth of 100 resourceblocks may be reduced from 100 bits to 25 bits. A drawback though isthat the scheduling granularity is reduced; single resource blockscannot be scheduled for the largest cell bandwidths using allocationtype 0.

This is a problem, as in large cell bandwidths a frequency resolution ofa single resource block is sometimes useful, e.g. to support smallpayloads. Resource allocation type 1 addresses this by dividing thetotal number of resource blocks in the frequency domain into dispersedsubsets. The number of subsets is given from the cell bandwidth, withthe number of subsets in type 1 being equal to the group size in type 0.

Thus, for the example of a downlink cell bandwidth of 100 resourceblocks, as described above, there are four subsets. Within a subset, abitmap indicates the resource blocks in the frequency domain upon whichthe downlink transmission occurs.

FIG. 3 b shows the resource allocation message structure for resourceallocation type 1. The message again comprises a type identifier 16(identifying type 1) and a bitmap 18 identifying the resource blocksthat are allocated. However, one of the requirements on the design ofresource allocation type 1 was to maintain the same number of bits inthe allocation message as for type 0, without adding unnecessaryoverhead. The bitmap 18 in resource allocation type 1 is thereforenecessarily smaller than in type 0 to allow for the signalling of thesubset number in the subset identifier field 20. A consequence of thesmaller bitmap 18 is that not all resource blocks in the subset can beaddressed simultaneously. To be able to address all resources with thebitmap, there is a flag 22 indicating whether the bitmap relates to the“left” or “right” part of the resource blocks in the subset. That is,further subsets are defined within the original subset.

FIG. 3 c shows the structure of a resource allocation message forresource allocation type 2. Unlike the other two types of resource-blockallocation signalling, type 2 does not rely on a bitmap. Instead, itencodes the resource allocation as a start position 24 and length 26 ofthe resource-block allocation. Thus, it does not support arbitraryallocations of resource blocks but only contiguous allocations, therebyreducing the number of bits required for signalling the resource-blockallocation.

What is required is a way of signalling resource allocation in atelecommunications network utilizing a plurality of carriers between theradio base station and the mobile terminal.

Two alternatives for L1/L2 control signalling in future releases of theUTRAN as specified in future releases of the 3GPP specifications can beconsidered (i.e. when signalling on multiple component carriers):

-   1) Each component carrier has its own PDCCH; if the terminal is    scheduled on multiple component carriers, information about that    particular component carrier is included on the PDCCH of the same    component carrier.-   2) PDCCHs on one component carrier can point to resource blocks on    multiple component carriers.

In the first alternative, the signalling structure on each componentcarrier can be identical to Rel-8. However, in the second alternative,one PDCCH needs to be able to point to resource blocks on multiplecomponent carriers. Such a PDCCH therefore needs to be able to point toa larger number of resource blocks than are available on a singlecomponent carrier.

Extending the addressing capability in terms of resource blocks can bedone by introducing new formats of the control information transmittedon the PDCCH. To be able to allocate resources on all componentcarriers, the new format needs to be able to address a larger set ofresource blocks. As an example, if five carriers of 20 MHz areaggregated, the new format needs to address up to 5×100=500 resourceblocks in the frequency domain, compared to 100 in the case of a single20 MHz carrier only. Hence, the new format will be larger, in terms ofthe number of bits for control signalling, in order to address thelarger number of resource blocks.

However, introducing new formats would require a terminal to monitormultiple formats. This increases the complexity of the terminal as theterminal preferably should monitor also the formats present in Rel-8. Ifthe terminal monitors only the new format(s), the network would beforced to use the new format also for small resource block allocations,resulting in an increase in overhead.

SUMMARY

According to the present invention, the existing control signalling isallowed to indicate a larger set of resource blocks than in Rel-8, wherethe size of such a set is scaled by the ratio of the total bandwidthover all aggregated component carriers divided by the component carriercarrying the PDCCH.

Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a radio basestation for use in a telecommunications network. The radio base stationis configured to transmit data to a mobile terminal of thetelecommunications network over a plurality of carriers, resources oneach of the plurality of carriers comprising respective pluralities ofresource blocks. The radio base station comprises: processing circuitry,configured to generate a resource allocation message comprising one ormore bits, each bit corresponding to a number of resource blocks; and atransmitter, configured to transmit the resource allocation message overone carrier of the plurality of carriers. The number of resource blocksis determined from the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the pluralityof carriers divided by the bandwidth of the carrier over which theresource allocation message is transmitted.

A corresponding method is also provided.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a mobile terminal for use in a telecommunications network. Themobile terminal is configured to receive data from a radio base stationof the telecommunications network over a plurality of carriers,resources on each of the plurality of carriers comprising respectivepluralities of resource blocks. The mobile terminal comprises: areceiver, configured to receive a resource allocation message over onecarrier of the plurality of carriers, said resource allocation messagecomprising one or more bits, each bit corresponding to a number ofresource blocks; and processing circuitry, configured to decode saidresource allocation message. The number of resource blocks is determinedfrom the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the plurality of carriersdivided by the bandwidth of the carrier over which the resourceallocation message is transmitted.

According to the solution proposed by the present invention, only oneresource allocation message is therefore required to allocate resourceson more than one carrier, minimizing the power spent in transmittingsuch messages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show moreclearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made,by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a telecommunications network;

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of aggregated component carriers;

FIGS. 3 a to 3 c show the structure of resource allocation messages forresource allocation types 0, 1 and 2, respectively;

FIG. 4 shows a radio base station according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a mobile terminal according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing allocated resource blocks according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing allocated resource blocks according toanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows a method in a radio base station according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 9 shows a method in a mobile terminal according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present invention, methods are disclosed for usewith the network as described with respect to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a radio base station 40 according to the present invention.

The base station 40 comprises an antenna 42, coupled to transmitting andreceiving circuitry 44. The Tx/Rx circuitry 44 is further coupled toprocessing circuitry 46.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, where they arenon-essential to describe the present invention, numerous features havebeen omitted for clarity. Further, it will also be apparent that thebase station 40 may comprise more than one antenna, and more than oneTx/Rx circuitry. All such variations are within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

The processing circuitry 46 comprises a K calculator 47 which calculatesa value for a parameter K as will be described in greater detail below.The processing circuitry further comprises a message generator 48 whichoperates to generate a resource allocation message as will be describedbelow. The Tx/Rx circuitry 44 and the antenna 42 operate to transmit theresource allocation message, for example, to a mobile terminal or userequipment. Transmission of the resource allocation message takes placeover one or more component carriers of a plurality of componentcarriers. For example, the resource allocation message could betransmitted over one carrier, with the message allocating resources foreach of the plurality of carriers. Alternatively, where there are fourcomponent carriers, say, resource allocation messages could betransmitted over two of the carriers, with each message allocatingresources for two carriers.

In an embodiment where the radio base station 40 is a base station in anE-UTRAN as defined in specifications of the 3GPP, the resourceallocation messages may be transmitted over the PDCCH.

FIG. 5 shows a mobile terminal, or user equipment, 50 according to thepresent invention.

The mobile terminal 50 comprises an antenna 52, coupled to transmittingand receiving circuitry 54. The Tx/Rx circuitry 54 is further coupled toprocessing circuitry 56.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, where they arenon-essential to describe the present invention, numerous features havebeen omitted for clarity. Further, it will also be apparent that themobile terminal 50 may comprise more than one antenna, and more than oneTx/Rx circuitry. All such variations are within the scope of the presentinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

In use, the Tx/Rx circuitry 54 and the antenna 52 operate to receive aresource allocation message. Reception of the resource allocationmessage takes place over one or more component carriers of a pluralityof component carriers. For example, the resource allocation messagecould be transmitted over one carrier, with the message allocatingresources for each of the plurality of carriers. Alternatively, wherethere are four component carriers, say, resource allocation messagescould be transmitted over two of the carriers, with each messageallocating resources for two carriers. The processing circuitry 56comprises a decoder 58 which operates to decode the resource allocationmessage and to interpret its contents as described in greater detailbelow.

In an embodiment where the mobile terminal 50 is a mobile terminal in anE-UTRAN as defined in specifications of the 3GPP, the resourceallocation messages may be transmitted over the PDCCH.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, resourceallocation messages are transmitted generally having the same format asdisclosed with respect to FIGS. 3 a to 3 c. However, the messages arescaled to represent a greater number of bits such that resources on aplurality of carriers can be allocated with a single message.

Let

$K = \frac{\sum\limits_{i}{BandwidthofComponentCarrier}_{\; i}}{BandwidthofAnchorCarrier}$

where the bandwidth may be expressed in any convenient units, such asresource blocks for example. The anchor carrier is the carrier on whichthe resource allocation messages are transmitted; and the sum in thenumerator part of the equation is over all component carriers for whichthe message is allocating resources. Thus, the sum may be over allcomponent carriers, or over a subset of two or more of the componentcarriers.

For example, if there are six allocated carriers, each with a bandwidthof 20 MHz, and resource allocation messages are transmitted over justone of the carriers, K=6. If resources are allocated on just twocarriers, K=2. Alternatively, resource allocation messages may betransmitted over two carriers, with messages on each carrier allocatingresources on three of the carriers. In this case, K=3 for each resourceallocation message. However, there is no requirement that each messagebe responsible for allocating resources on equal numbers of carriers.

As described above, the resource-allocation messages (type 0, 1, 2)point to resource bocks or to groups of resource blocks. Denote such a(group of) resource blocks by P_(i), where the number of resource blocksin a group P_(i) is given by the Rel-8 specifications based on thebandwidth of the anchor carrier.

In the present invention, the resource-allocation messages point not toa set of P_(i) resource blocks, but to sets S_(i) where a set S_(i)contains a number of P_(i) groups. The number of groups is determinedfrom K. For example, where the resource-allocation type previouslypointed to a single resource block, the number of resource blockspointed to by a resource-allocation type according to the presentinvention is equal to K. Where the resource-allocation type previouslypointed to 4 resource blocks, the number of resource blocks pointed toby a resource-allocation type according to the present invention is 4K.

If K is not an integer, an appropriate rounding function may be used,e.g., rounding up or down, or to the nearest integer. Also, note thatone or more of the sets S_(j) may be of slightly different size so as tomatch the total number of resource blocks available for transmission.

FIG. 6 shows the allocation of resource blocks according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The upper part of FIG. 6 illustrates the allocation of resources when asingle component carrier of 25 resource blocks is scheduled, usingresource allocation type 0. A 13-bit bitmap points to the 25 resourceblocks that are scheduled, with the majority of bits pointing to tworesource blocks, and the final bit pointing to a single resource block.

The lower part of FIG. 6 illustrates the allocation of resourcesaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, in the examplewhere two component carriers, each of 25 resource blocks, are scheduled.The resource allocation message, using resource allocation type 0, issent over just one of the two component carriers. Therefore, in thisexample, K=2. Again, a 13-bit bitmap points to the resource blocks thatare allocated. However, according to this embodiment, each bit points tofour resource blocks (i.e. 2K). The same resource allocation messageformat may therefore be used to allocate resources on more than onecomponent carrier.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, the numbering of resource blocks isseparate on each component carrier. Thus, a “new” bit points to thebeginning of each component carrier. Leftover resource blocks at the endof each component carrier are ignored until a later bit in the bitmap,which allocates them. In the example of FIG. 6, it is the final bit inthe bitmap which allocates both resource blocks numbered 24.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the allocation of resource blocks accordingto another embodiment of the present invention. The example shown issimilar to that described with respect to FIG. 6, and so will not bedescribed in great detail. The difference is that the resource blocks ofthe plurality of component carriers are numbered sequentially, and thenumbering does not restart with each component carrier. In thisembodiment, bits of the resource allocation message point to consecutiveresource blocks, and run on to consecutive component carriers withoutgaps in the allocation of resource blocks.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method according to the presentinvention.

The method starts in step 60. In step 62, K is determined as describedabove.

The above description for extending the addressing range of the controlsignalling assumes that the mobile terminal is being allocated resourceson multiple component carriers. If the terminal is only to be allocatedresource blocks on one of the component carriers, the sameinterpretation of the control signalling as in Rel-8 can be assumed.Therefore, in step 64, the radio base station indicates to the terminalthat it is allocated on a plurality of component carriers. Variousmethods will be apparent to those skilled in the art to send such anindication. One method is to assign the terminal multiple identities(note that the identity is implicitly included in the controlsignalling), one per component-carrier combination. Thus, when themobile terminal receives its identity it can determine whether it isallocated resource blocks on more than one component carrier, and onwhich component carrier(s) it is allocated.

In step 66, a resource allocation message is transmitted according tothe present invention.

The resource allocation message may be of a resource-allocation type 0,1, or 2, as described above. In resource-allocation type 0, the messagecomprises a type identifier (i.e. identifying type 0) and a bitmap,where each bit of the bitmap points to a plurality of resource blocks.The number of resource blocks pointed to is determined as describedabove, through the use of the parameter K.

In resource-allocation type 1, the message comprises a type identifier(i.e. identifying type 1), one or more subset identifiers as describedabove, and a bitmap, where each bit of the bitmap points to a pluralityof resource blocks. The number of resource blocks pointed to isdetermined as described above, through the use of the parameter K.

In resource-allocation type 2, the message comprises a starting resourceblock, and a length identifying the number of resource blocks allocatedafter the starting resource block. According to the present invention,the starting resource block and the length are both determined using K.For example, where the starting resource block is 10, the length equalto 50, and K equal to 5, the resource allocation message indicates astarting resource block of 2 and a length of 10.

The resource blocks may be numbered and allocated in any of a number ofways. For example, each bit in the resource allocation message may pointto a plurality of resource blocks on the same component carrier, or to acombination of resource blocks on various component carriers (e.g. oneresource block on each component carrier).

As stated previously, it is useful to be able to allocate singleresource blocks on a component carrier. However, the reduced resolutionoffered by the present invention is not a significant drawback, as it isforeseen that multiple component carriers will be allocated only whenlarge volumes of data are required to be transmitted. In this instance,the coarser granularity of the allocation is not important as largenumbers of resource blocks will be allocated in any case. Moreover thisallows resources on multiple carriers to be allocated by a singleresource allocation message, and with the same format as legacystandards.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a corresponding method in a mobileterminal according to the present invention.

The method starts in step 70. In step 72, an indication is received thatthe mobile terminal is allocated resources on a plurality of componentcarriers. As before, various methods will be apparent to those skilledin the art to receive such an indication. One method is to assign theterminal multiple identities (note that the identity is implicitlyincluded in the control signalling), one per component-carriercombination. Thus, when the mobile terminal receives its identity it candetermine whether it is allocated resource blocks on more than onecomponent carrier, and on which component carrier(s) it is allocated.

In step 74, the mobile terminal determines K as defined above, andaccording to the indication received in step 72.

In step 76, a resource allocation message according to the presentinvention is received. The processing circuitry of the mobile terminalmay then interpret the one or more bits of the resource allocationmessage in the light of its determination of K in step 74.

The present invention therefore provides a solution to the problem ofresource allocation in telecommunication systems where communicationsbetween a radio base station and a mobile terminal take place over morethan one carrier. Resource allocation messages according to the presentinvention have the same format as legacy resource allocation messages,and therefore are compatible with legacy systems.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustraterather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art willbe able to design many alternative embodiments without departing fromthe scope of the appended claims. The word “comprising” does not excludethe presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim,“a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality, and a single processor orother unit may fulfil the functions of several units recited in theclaims. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed so asto limit their scope.

1-32. (canceled)
 33. A method in a radio base station for use in atelecommunications network, the radio base station being configured totransmit data to a mobile terminal of the telecommunications networkover a plurality of component carriers, resources on each of theplurality of component carriers comprising respective pluralities ofresource blocks, the method comprising: indicating to the mobileterminal that resources are allocated on more than one of the pluralityof component carriers, and transmitting to the mobile terminal aresource allocation message over a particular one of said componentcarriers, the resource allocation message comprising an indication of anumber of allocated resource blocks, wherein the number is determinedfrom a function of the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the more thanone of the plurality of component carriers divided by the bandwidth ofthe component carrier over which the resource allocation message issent.
 34. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the resourceallocation message comprises one or more bits, each bit corresponding toa number of resource blocks.
 35. The method as claimed in claim 33,wherein said indicating comprises: transmitting one of a plurality ofmobile terminal identities, each of the plurality of mobile terminalidentities corresponding to a respective combination of componentcarriers on which the mobile terminal is allocated.
 36. The method asclaimed in claim 33, wherein the resource allocation message comprises aresource allocation type and a bitmap comprising said one or more bits.37. The method as claimed in claim 36, wherein the resource allocationmessage further comprises a resource block subset identifier.
 38. Themethod as claimed in claim 33, wherein said number of allocated resourceblocks is equal to an integer multiple of said ratio.
 39. The method asclaimed in claim 38, wherein the ratio is rounded to an integer value.40. The method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said number of allocatedresource blocks is equal to a non-unity integer multiple of said ratio.41. The method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the ratio is rounded toan integer value.
 42. The method as claimed in claim 33, said number ofallocated resource blocks is equal to an actual number of allocatedresource blocks divided by said ratio.
 43. The method as claimed inclaim 42, wherein the resource allocation message further comprises anindication of a starting resource block of the allocated resourceblocks, wherein the starting resource block indicated in the resourceallocation message is equal to an actual starting resource block numberdivided by said ratio.
 44. A radio base station for use in atelecommunications network and configured to transmit data to a mobileterminal of the telecommunications network over a plurality of componentcarriers, resources on each of the plurality of component carrierscomprising respective pluralities of resource blocks, the radio basestation comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit to the mobileterminal an indication that resources are allocated on more than one ofthe plurality of component carriers, and to also transmit to the mobileterminal a resource allocation message over one of the plurality ofcomponent carriers; and processing circuitry configured to generate saidresource allocation message to comprise an indication of a number ofallocated resource blocks, wherein the number is determined from afunction of the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the more than one ofthe plurality of component carriers divided by the bandwidth of thecomponent carrier over which the resource allocation message is sent.45. The radio base station as claimed in claim 44, wherein saidprocessing circuitry is configured to generate said resource allocationmessage to comprise one or more bits, each bit corresponding to a numberof resource blocks.
 46. The radio base station as claimed in claim 44,wherein said indication comprises one of a plurality of mobile terminalidentities, each of the plurality of mobile terminal identitiescorresponding to a respective combination of component carriers on whichthe mobile terminal is allocated.
 47. The radio base station as claimedin claim 44, wherein the resource allocation message comprises aresource allocation type and a bitmap comprising said one or more bits.48. The radio base station as claimed in claim 47, the resourceallocation message further comprising a resource block subsetidentifier.
 49. The radio base station as claimed in claim 44, whereinthe processing circuitry is configured to generate said resourceallocation message to comprise an indication of a number of allocatedresource blocks that is equal to an actual number of allocated resourceblocks divided by said ratio.
 50. The radio base station as claimed inclaim 49, wherein the resource allocation message further comprises anindication of a starting resource block of the allocated resourceblocks, wherein the starting resource block indicated in the resourceallocation message is equal to an actual starting resource block numberdivided by said ratio.
 51. A mobile terminal for use in atelecommunications network and configured to receive data from a radiobase station of the telecommunications network over a plurality ofcomponent carriers, resources on each of the plurality of componentcarriers comprising respective pluralities of resource blocks, themobile terminal comprising: a receiver configured to receive anindication that resources are allocated on more than one of theplurality of carriers, and to receive a resource allocation message overone of the plurality of component carriers, said resource allocationmessage comprising an indication of a number of allocated resourceblocks, and processing circuitry configured to decode said resourceallocation message to determine said number of allocated resource blocksfrom a function of the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the more thanone of the plurality of component carriers divided by the bandwidth ofthe component carrier over which the resource allocation message issent.
 52. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 51, wherein thereceiver is configured to receive a resource allocation message thatcomprises one or more bits, each bit corresponding to a number ofresource blocks.
 53. The mobile terminal as claimed in claim 51, whereinsaid indication comprises one of a plurality of mobile terminalidentities, each of the plurality of mobile terminal identitiescorresponding to a respective combination of component carriers on whichthe mobile terminal is allocated.
 54. The mobile terminal as claimed inclaim 51, wherein the resource allocation message comprises a resourceallocation type, and a bitmap comprising said one or more bits.
 55. Themobile terminal as claimed in claim 54, the resource allocation messagefurther comprising a resource block subset identifier.
 56. The mobileterminal as claimed in claim 51, wherein the number of allocatedresource blocks indicated in the resource allocation message is equal toan actual number of allocated resource blocks divided by said ratio. 57.A method in a mobile terminal for use in a telecommunications network,the mobile terminal being configured to receive data from a radio basestation of the telecommunications network over a plurality of componentcarriers, resources on each of the plurality of component carrierscomprising respective pluralities of resource blocks, the methodcomprising: receiving an indication that the mobile terminal isallocated resources on more than one of the plurality of componentcarriers, and receiving from the radio base station a resourceallocation message over a particular one of said component carriers, theresource allocation message comprising an indication of a number ofallocated resource blocks, wherein the number is determined from afunction of the ratio of the aggregate bandwidth of the more than one ofthe plurality of component carriers divided by the bandwidth of thecomponent carrier over which the resource allocation message is sent.58. The method as claimed in claim 57, wherein the resource allocationmessage comprises one or more bits, each bit corresponding to a numberof resource blocks.
 59. The method as claimed in claim 57, wherein saidnumber of allocated resources is equal to an integer multiple of saidratio.
 60. The method as claimed in claim 59, wherein the ratio isrounded to an integer value.
 61. The method as claimed in claim 57,wherein said number of allocated resources is equal to a non-unityinteger multiple of said ratio.
 62. The method as claimed in claim 61,wherein the ratio is rounded to an integer value.
 63. The method asclaimed in claim 57, wherein said indication comprises: one of aplurality of mobile terminal identities, each of the plurality of mobileterminal identities corresponding to a respective combination ofcomponent carriers on which the mobile terminal is allocated.
 64. Themethod as claimed in claim 63, wherein the resource allocation messagecomprises a resource allocation type and a bitmap comprising said one ormore bits.
 65. The method as claimed in claim 64, the resourceallocation message further comprising a resource block subsetidentifier.
 66. The method as claimed in claim 57, wherein the number ofallocated resource blocks indicated in the resource allocation messageis equal to an actual number of allocated resource blocks divided bysaid ratio.